Ambush in Dallas: Several cops slain by sniper fire at...

1of56Dallas Police Chief David Brown pauses at a prayer vigil following the deaths of five police officers last night during a Black Live Matter march on July 8, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. Five police officers were killed and seven others were injured in a coordinated ambush at a anti-police brutality demonstration in Dallas. Investigators are saying the suspect is 25-year-old Micah Xavier Johnson of Mesquite, Texas. This is the deadliest incident for U.S. law enforcement since September 11. Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

2of56People gather in a prayer vigil following the shooting deaths of five police officers last night during a Black Live Matter march on July 8, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. Five police officers were killed and seven others were injured in a coordinated ambush at a anti-police brutality demonstration in Dallas. Investigators are saying the suspect is 25-year-old Micah Xavier Johnson of Mesquite, Texas. This is the deadliest incident for U.S. law enforcement since September 11. Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

3of56People gather in a prayer vigil following the shooting deaths of five police officers last night during a Black Live Matter march on July 8, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. Five police officers were killed and seven others were injured in a coordinated ambush at a anti-police brutality demonstration in Dallas. Investigators are saying the suspect is 25-year-old Micah Xavier Johnson of Mesquite, Texas. This is the deadliest incident for U.S. law enforcement since September 11.Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

4of56People gather in a prayer vigil following the shooting deaths of five police officers last night during a Black Live Matter march on July 8, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. Five police officers were killed and seven others were injured in a coordinated ambush at a anti-police brutality demonstration in Dallas. Investigators are saying the suspect is 25-year-old Micah Xavier Johnson of Mesquite, Texas. This is the deadliest incident for U.S. law enforcement since September 11. Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

5of56This undated photo shows Micah Johnson, who was a suspect in the sniper slayings of five law enforcement officers in Dallas Thursday night, July 7, 2016, during a protest over two recent fatal police shootings of black men. An Army veteran, Johnson tried to take refuge in a parking garage and exchanged gunfire with police, who later killed him with a robot-delivered bomb, Dallas Police Chief David Brown said. (Facebook via AP)Photo: Associated Press

6of56This undated photo posted on Facebook on April 30, 2016, shows Micah Johnson, who was a suspect in the sniper slayings of five law enforcement officers in Dallas Thursday night, July 7, 2016, during a protest over two recent fatal police shootings of black men. An Army veteran, Johnson tried to take refuge in a parking garage and exchanged gunfire with police, who later killed him with a robot-delivered bomb, Dallas Police Chief David Brown said. (Facebook via AP)Photo: Associated Press

7of56Mesquite Police officers and reporters sit outside of a home where one of the alleged snipers, Micah Xavier Johnson, is believed to have lived, Friday, July 8, 2016, in Mesquite.Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

8of56Reporters attempt to talk to a man leaving a home where one of the alleged snipers, Micah Xavier Johnson, is believed to have lived, Friday, July 8, 2016, in Mesquite.Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

9of56Brent Thompson, 43, a Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer was killed on Thursday, July 7, 2016. The department said that Thompson was the first agency office to ever die in the line of duty.Photo: via Linkedin

11of56Michael Krol, one of the Dallas Police Department officers slain Thursday, July 7, 2016 in Dallas.Photo: Wayne County Sheriff's Office

12of56Police investigate the scene along Main Street early Friday morning at the scene of Thursday's fatal shooting, July 8, 2016, in Dallas.Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle

13of56A Dallas police officer covers his face as he stands with others outside the emergency room at Baylor University Medical Center, Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas. Snipers opened fire on police officers in the heart of Dallas on Thursday night, killing some of the officers.Photo: Tony Gutierrez/AP

14of56People wait to return to their cars early Friday morning as police investigate the scene of Thursday's fatal shooting, July 8, 2016, in Dallas.Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle

15of56A window on the north side of El Centro Community College is shattered hours after the shootings in Dallas. (Paul Moseley/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS)Photo: Paul Moseley/TNS

16of56Police cars fill Main Street in downtown Dallas early Friday morning as law enforcement investigate the scene of Thursday's fatal shooting, July 8, 2016, in Dallas.Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle

17of56Investigators document the crime scene outside El Centro College in Dallas on Friday, July 8, 2016, where a sniper killed five police officers and wounded seven others during a protest over recent police shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana Thursday night. (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/TNS)Photo: Marcus Yam/TNS

18of56One of two bullet holes in a Dallas police squad car at Elm and Market Streets, less than a block from the parking garage in Dallas. (Paul Moseley/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS)Photo: Paul Moseley/TNS

22of56Dallas Police Chief David Brown collects himself while talking about Thursday night's shooting during a press conference at city hall, Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas.Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle

24of56Dallas Police respond after shots were fired at a Black Lives Matter rally in downtown Dallas on Thursday, July 7, 2016. Dallas protestors rallied in the aftermath of the killing of Alton Sterling by police officers in Baton Rouge, La. and Philando Castile, who was killed by police less than 48 hours later in Minnesota. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Associated Press

25of56A man reacts after gunmen opened fire during a protest on Thursday, July 7, 2016 in Dallas. Snipers opened fire on police officers in the heart of Dallas during protests over two recent fatal police shootings of black men. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News via AP)Photo: Ashley Landis, Associated Press

26of56Emergency responders administer CPR to an unknown patient on a stretcher as law enforcement officials stand nearby at the emergency receiving area of Baylor University Medical Center, early Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas.Photo: Tony Gutierrez/AP

27of56A mother covers her children as Dallas police respond to shots being fired during a protest over recent fatal shootings by police in Louisiana and Minnesota, Thursday, July 7, 2016, in Dallas. Snipers opened fire on police officers during protests; several officers were killed, police said. (Maria R. Olivas/The Dallas Morning News via AP)Photo: Maria R. Olivas/AP

28of56A Dallas police officer, who did not want to be identified, takes a moment as she guards an intersection in the early morning after a shooting in downtown Dallas, Friday, July 8, 2016. At least two snipers opened fire on police officers during protests in Dallas on Thursday night; some of the officers were killed, police said.Photo: LM Otero/AP

32of56The windows of a 7 Eleven on Elm Street behind El Centro College in downtown are shattered early Friday morning at the scene of the fatal shooting Thursday night, July 8, 2016, in Dallas.Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle

34of56Clarissa Pyles describes her experience escaping the shooting scene in downtown Dallas Thursday while waiting to return to her car early Friday morning, July 8, 2016, in Dallas.Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle

35of56The El Centro College parking garage stands in downtown Dallas early Friday, July 8, 2016. Snipers opened fire on police officers in Dallas, killing several during protests over two recent fatal police shootings of black men, police said. Police said three suspects were in custody and a fourth suspect was exchanging gunfire with authorities, Dallas Police Chief David Brown said early Friday morning. The suspect is not cooperating and has told negotiators he intends to hurt more law enforcement officials, the chief said.Photo: LM Otero/AP

36of56Dallas Police Chief David Brown leaves the Baylor University Medical Center after a visit, Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas. Snipers opened fire on police officers in the heart of Dallas on Thursday night, killing some of the officers.Photo: Tony Gutierrez/AP

37of56Dallas Police respond after shots are fired at a Black Lives Matter rally in downtown Dallas on Thursday, July 7, 2016. Dallas protesters rallied in the aftermath of the killing of Alton Sterling by police officers in Baton Rouge, La., and Philando Castile, who was killed by police less than 48 hours later in Minnesota.Photo: G.J. McCarthy/TNS

38of56A Dallas police helicopter flies over the scene where eleven Dallas police officers were shot and five have now died on July 8, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. According to reports, shots were fired during a protest being held in downtown Dallas in response to recent fatal shootings of two black men by police - Alton Sterling on July 5, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Philando Castile on July 6, 2016, in Falcon Heights, Minnesota.Photo: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

39of56Sherry Williams, left, and Theresa Williams, center, speak to the media as they leave the Baylor University Medical Center, Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas. Theresa Williams said her sister Shetamia Taylor, who was attending a rally with her four teenage sons in downtown Dallas, was shot in one of her legs.Photo: Tony Gutierrez/AP

40of56Dallas police officers escort residents near the scene where eleven Dallas police officers were shot and five have now died on July 8, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. According to reports, shots were fired during a protest being held in downtown Dallas in response to recent fatal shootings of two black men by police - Alton Sterling on July 5, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Philando Castile on July 6, 2016, in Falcon Heights, Minnesota.Photo: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

41of56Dallas police work near the scene where eleven Dallas police officers were shot and five have now died on July 8, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. According to reports, shots were fired during a protest being held in downtown Dallas in response to recent fatal shootings of two black men by police - Alton Sterling on July 5, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Philando Castile on July 6, 2016, in Falcon Heights, Minnesota.Photo: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

42of56Dallas police officers stand in a line near the site of shootings in downtown Dallas, early Friday, July 8, 2016. Snipers opened fire on police officers, police said; some of the officers were killed.Photo: LM Otero/AP

43of56Two law enforcement officers console each other outside the emergency room of Baylor University Medical Center, early Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas. At least two snipers opened fire on police officers in Dallas on Thursday night, police said.Photo: Tony Gutierrez/AP

44of56An unidentified woman and a law enforcement officer reach for each other's hand as they walk out of the Baylor University Medical Center emergency reception area, early Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas.Photo: Tony Gutierrez/AP

45of56Dallas Police respond after shots are fired at a Black Lives Matter rally in downtown Dallas on Thursday, July 7, 2016. Dallas protesters rallied in the aftermath of the killing of Alton Sterling by police officers in Baton Rouge, La., and Philando Castile, who was killed by police less than 48 hours later in Minnesota.Photo: G.J. McCarthy/TNS

47of56Dallas police and residents stand near the scene where four Dallas police officers were shot and killed on July 7, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. According to reports, shots were fired during a protest being held in downtown Dallas in response to recent fatal shootings of two black men by police - Alton Sterling on July 5, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Philando Castile on July 6, 2016, in Falcon Heights, Minnesota.Photo: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

48of56Dallas police check a car after detaining a driver in downtown Dallas, Thursday, July 7, 2016. Several police officers were shot by snipers, police said; some of the officers were killed.Photo: LM Otero/AP

49of56Police officers stand guard at a barricade following the sniper shooting in Dallas on July 7, 2016. A fourth police officer was killed and two suspected snipers were in custody after a protest late Thursday against police brutality in Dallas, authorities said. One suspect had turned himself in and another who was in a shootout with SWAT officers was also in custody, the Dallas Police Department tweeted.Photo: LAURA BUCKMAN/AFP/Getty Images

50of56Protesters yell after police officers arrest a bystander following the shooting at a protest in Dallas on July 7, 2016. A fourth police officer was killed and two suspected snipers were in custody after a protest late Thursday against police brutality in Dallas, authorities said. One suspect had turned himself in and another who was in a shootout with SWAT officers was also in custody, the Dallas Police Department tweeted.Photo: LAURA BUCKMAN/AFP/Getty Images

51of56Police attempt to calm the crowd as someone is arrested following the sniper shooting in Dallas on July 7, 2016. A fourth police officer was killed and two suspected snipers were in custody after a protest late Thursday against police brutality in Dallas, authorities said. One suspect had turned himself in and another who was in a shootout with SWAT officers was also in custody, the Dallas Police Department tweeted.Photo: LAURA BUCKMAN/AFP/Getty Images

53of56Police cars sit on Main Street in Dallas following the sniper shooting during a protest on Thursday, July 7, 2016. A fourth police officer was killed and two suspected snipers were in custody after a protest late Thursday against police brutality in Dallas, authorities said. One suspect had turned himself in and another who was in a shootout with SWAT officers was also in custody, the Dallas Police Department tweeted.Photo: LAURA BUCKMAN/AFP/Getty Images

55of56Dallas Police respond after shots were fired at a Black Lives Matter rally in downtown Dallas on Thursday, July 7, 2016. Dallas protestors rallied in the aftermath of the killing of Alton Sterling by police officers in Baton Rouge, La. and Philando Castile, who was killed by police less than 48 hours later in Minnesota. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Associated Press

56of56Dallas Police respond after shots were fired at a Black Lives Matter rally in downtown Dallas on Thursday, July 7, 2016. Dallas protestors rallied in the aftermath of the killing of Alton Sterling by police officers in Baton Rouge, La. and Philando Castile, who was killed by police less than 48 hours later in Minnesota. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Associated Press

DALLAS — At least two snipers opened fire on police officers during a protest here Thursday night, killing at least five and injuring six others, police said.

Dallas Police Chief David Brown said the snipers fired "ambush style" on the officers.

He said three people were in custody, including a suspect who was in a shootout with Dallas SWAT officers.

Later, Dallas police reported that they had surrounded a suspect in a parking garage and that the suspect claimed to have planted bombs. An explosion was heard at the scene, but it wasn't immediately clear what the blast was.

The gunfire broke out around 8:45 p.m. Thursday while hundreds of people were gathered to protest fatal police shootings this week in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and suburban St. Paul, Minnesota.

The protesters had gathered after a Minnesota officer on Wednesday fatally shot Philando Castile while he was in a car with a woman and a child in a St. Paul suburb. The aftermath of the shooting was livestreamed in a widely shared Facebook video.

A day earlier, Alton Sterling was shot in Louisiana after being pinned to the pavement by two white officers. That, too, was captured on a cellphone video.

Footage from the scene in Dallas showed that protesters were marching along a downtown street, about half a mile from City Hall, when the shots erupted and the crowd scattered, seeking cover.

Mayor Mike Rawlings said that besides the 11 officers, a civilian also was wounded in the gunfire.

A family member said the civilian was a protester who was shielding her sons from gunfire when she was hit.

A sister of 37-year-old Shetamia Taylor said Taylor was at the protests Thursday night with her four sons, ages 12 to 17. Theresa Williams said that when the shooting began, Taylor threw herself over her sons.

She was undergoing surgery early Friday after being shot in the right calf.

The search for the gunmen stretched throughout downtown, an area of hotels, restaurants, businesses and some residential apartments. The scene was chaotic, with helicopters hovering overhead and officers with automatic rifles on the street corners.

"Everyone just started running," Devante Odom, 21, told the Dallas Morning News. "We lost touch with two of our friends just trying to get out of there."

Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement saying he had directed the Texas Department of Public Safety director to offer "whatever assistance the City of Dallas needs at this time."

"In times like this we must remember — and emphasize — the importance of uniting as Americans," Abbott said.

In the shooting of Castile, his girlfriend streamed the gruesome aftermath of the slaying live on Facebook, telling a worldwide audience that he'd been shot "for no apparent reason" while reaching for his wallet.

Within hours, the Minnesota governor was pressing for the Justice Department to open its second investigation of the week into the death of a black man at the hands of police.

"Nobody should be shot and killed in Minnesota for a taillight being out of function," Democrat Mark Dayton said. "Would this have happened if those passengers would have been white? I don't think it would have."

In the video, Diamond Reynolds describes being pulled over for a "busted tail light" and says her boyfriend had told the officer he was carrying a gun for which he was licensed.

As word of the shooting spread, relatives of Castile, 32, joined scores of people who gathered at the scene and outside the hospital where he died.

Reynolds said Thursday that he was killed even though he complied with the officer's instructions. She told reporters that Castile did "nothing but what the police officer asked of us, which was to put your hands in the air and get your license and registration."

The Department of Justice announced that it would monitor the investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The governor said he and other state officials would seek more direct involvement.

Speaking at a vigil Thursday evening outside the school where Castile worked, Valerie Castile called her son "an angel." She said she never thought she would lose him.

"This has to cease. This has to stop, right now," she told the crowd.

Hundreds of demonstrators braved the rain and gathered to protest the shooting outside the Governor's Mansion in St. Paul, where a crowd had also convened the night before.

The group swelled to over 1,000 for a time as people marched from the school vigil. Dayton waded through the crowd as protesters chanted: "What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now."

Police did not release any details about the officer except to say he had been placed on paid administrative leave.

In his first public reaction to the shootings, President Barack Obama said it is clear the slayings were not isolated incidents.

The deaths are "symptomatic of the broader challenges within our criminal justice system, the racial disparities that appear across the system year after year, and the resulting lack of trust that exists between law enforcement and too many of the communities they serve," Obama wrote in a Facebook post.

In the Facebook video, the officer tells her to keep her hands up and says: "I told him not to reach for it. I told him to get his hand out."

"You shot four bullets into him, sir. He was just getting his license and registration, sir," the woman responds.

Castile had worked for the St. Paul school district since he was 19. A principal described him as "a warm person and a gentle spirit" who loved his job and never missed work.

Katherine Holmquist-Burks hired Castile three years ago to supervise the cafeteria at J.J. Hill Montessori, a St. Paul magnet school with 530 students and 85 staff members.

"He stood out because he was happy, friendly and related to people well," she said.

After learning of his death, she went to the governor's mansion, in the same neighborhood as the school, to take part in a vigil.